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Knicks: One Key Area In Which Every Starter Must Improve

By Maxwell Ogden

July 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; USA forward Carmelo Anthony (15) shoots the basketball against China center Li Muhao (13) in the first quarter during an exhibition basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
July 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; USA forward Carmelo Anthony (15) shoots the basketball against China center Li Muhao (13) in the first quarter during an exhibition basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 12, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Courtney Lee (1) celebrates after hitting a three point shot in the second half at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated the Rockets 125-109. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Courtney Lee (1) celebrates after hitting a three point shot in the second half at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated the Rockets 125-109. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Courtney Lee: Taking A Step Back

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 30 (10/3/1985)
2015-16 Slash Line: .454/.378/.839
2015-16 Season Averages: 29.5 MPG, 9.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.0 3PM

It didn’t take long for New York Knicks fans to warm up to the signing of Courtney Lee. He doesn’t cry for touches or quit on his team, but instead works his tail off defensively and feels comfortable operating as an off-ball scoring threat.

In 2016-17, the goal for Lee should be to take a couple of steps back and turn his long 2s into 3s.

Lee made 98 midrange jump shots on 43.8 percent shooting during the 2015-16 season. Any and every team would love to have that type of production and efficiency, but Lee made 22 shots from 20-to-24 feet that weren’t 3-point field goals.

Though his ability to light teams up from midrange is valuable, he should make an effort to turn some of those attempts into 3-point field goals.

Lee is a high-caliber 3-point shooter. He owns a career mark of 38.4 percent from beyond the arc, and has made at least 1.0 3-point field goal per game in each of the past three seasons—a good, but somewhat low mark.

Considering he shot 40.3 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-point field goals, he’d do well to take a step back and turn that long 2 into a 3.

Next: Small Forward

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